Post by TimPig on Jul 31, 2018 21:09:02 GMT
Mark Stine
The New York Times Daily News
It's the move Knicks GM Eric Hofdolan has wanted to make since Jock Landale left the Knicks in the summer of 2001.
"I let Jock go," lamented Hofdolan. "And it was the biggest mistake of my life."
Four years ago, the cash-strapped Knicks, a small-market team that almost always finds itself financially in the red and barely able to continue operating if not for TMBSL's revenue sharing model, let Landale go, only to watch him sign with their biggest division rival, the Harlem Globetrotters.
When Landale left, it destroyed the seemingly unbreakable friendship shared by Hofdolan and legendary Knicks fan Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs. Upon the announcement of Landale's departure, Combs took to the stage to share his feelings with an original song he wrote about the situation.
"Not a day went by where I didn't relive that breaking news scrolling across the chyron on my home television system," continued Hofdolan. "I didn't sleep for four years straight, and Puffy and I didn't speak for that entire time either. But today...today is a special day. I regained both of my best friends."
Hofdolan, of course, is speaking of the blockbuster deal that saw the Knicks bring Landale back into the fold, along with embattled former Timberwolves small forward Chalky Studebaker.
"I forgive my brother," said Combs in a statement given to The New York Times Daily News.
The price for bringing Landale back was high. New York sent sent three future first round picks, three future second round picks, veteran big man and fan favorite Stan Haynes, and 25-year-old defensive specialist Herb Jones to Chicago.
"I briefly chatted with Eric during the Finals last year," said Bulls GM Tim Pig. "It didn't take much negotiating. We ran into each other in the hallway between my suite and his and he said he'd trade 'literally anything for Landale.' The way he spoke made me nervous, like as soon as we agreed on something he was going to demand an additional three lotto picks and start trying to convince me Jock wasn't actually that good. But that wasn't the case."
The homecoming parade for Landale happened the day after the signing was announced. Hofdolan, one of the foremost supporters of the United States military and a huge proponent for additional military spending, already had his annual Military Appreciation Parade planned for the following day and figured it'd be no problem to include a tribute to Landale as well.
"Diddy loves Jock almost as much as I do, but we both love the troops more than anything" claimed Hofdolan. "I had the idea in my head to have Diddy welcome Jock home, but before I could reach out, I already had three unread SMS text messages from him on my cellular telephone with the same idea."
The New York Times Daily News
It's the move Knicks GM Eric Hofdolan has wanted to make since Jock Landale left the Knicks in the summer of 2001.
"I let Jock go," lamented Hofdolan. "And it was the biggest mistake of my life."
Four years ago, the cash-strapped Knicks, a small-market team that almost always finds itself financially in the red and barely able to continue operating if not for TMBSL's revenue sharing model, let Landale go, only to watch him sign with their biggest division rival, the Harlem Globetrotters.
When Landale left, it destroyed the seemingly unbreakable friendship shared by Hofdolan and legendary Knicks fan Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs. Upon the announcement of Landale's departure, Combs took to the stage to share his feelings with an original song he wrote about the situation.
"Not a day went by where I didn't relive that breaking news scrolling across the chyron on my home television system," continued Hofdolan. "I didn't sleep for four years straight, and Puffy and I didn't speak for that entire time either. But today...today is a special day. I regained both of my best friends."
Hofdolan, of course, is speaking of the blockbuster deal that saw the Knicks bring Landale back into the fold, along with embattled former Timberwolves small forward Chalky Studebaker.
"I forgive my brother," said Combs in a statement given to The New York Times Daily News.
The price for bringing Landale back was high. New York sent sent three future first round picks, three future second round picks, veteran big man and fan favorite Stan Haynes, and 25-year-old defensive specialist Herb Jones to Chicago.
"I briefly chatted with Eric during the Finals last year," said Bulls GM Tim Pig. "It didn't take much negotiating. We ran into each other in the hallway between my suite and his and he said he'd trade 'literally anything for Landale.' The way he spoke made me nervous, like as soon as we agreed on something he was going to demand an additional three lotto picks and start trying to convince me Jock wasn't actually that good. But that wasn't the case."
The homecoming parade for Landale happened the day after the signing was announced. Hofdolan, one of the foremost supporters of the United States military and a huge proponent for additional military spending, already had his annual Military Appreciation Parade planned for the following day and figured it'd be no problem to include a tribute to Landale as well.
"Diddy loves Jock almost as much as I do, but we both love the troops more than anything" claimed Hofdolan. "I had the idea in my head to have Diddy welcome Jock home, but before I could reach out, I already had three unread SMS text messages from him on my cellular telephone with the same idea."
